In 1971
the Chase County Historical Society published Volume IV of their Chase County History
series in which they included information on early schools in Chase County. I am
grateful for their permission in providing the following information which they had
gathered from people who had attended the schools or lived in the locality of the
schools. Many Chase County residents gave valuable help on gathering information for
this history. The Chase County Historical Society maintains a file on each school
district in their museum in Champion, Nebraska.

The
first school in this District was a sod building built in the mid 1890's on the
southeast corner of 36-8-42. This building was used until 1902 at which time school
was then held in Henry Miller's sod house. It was later held at the home of
James Davidson's sod house. The District had a frame building built in the early
1900's until 1945 when it closed. The final location of the school was in section
30-8-41. Research for this District was provided by George Smith, who also provided
the following information regarding the names of teachers, when they taught, how long they taught, and wages they were paid. Note that during the Depression years the school terms were cut, and the teachers' salaries were reduced:

Rilla Peterson

1908 - 1909

$35

6 months

Dessie Eagan

1909 -1910

$42

6 months

Nora Stickels

1910 - 1911

$45

6 months

Mrs. Shutt

1911 - 1912

$45

6 months

Eva Long

1912 - 1913

$45

6 months

Opal Dagget

1913 - 1914

$50

6 months

Lois Watkins

1914 - 1915

$50

6 months

Lillie Murphy

1915 - 1916

$50

6 months

Matilda Peterson

1916 - 1917

$45

6 months

Gladys Davidson

1917 - 1918

$50

6 months

Gladys Davidson

1918 - 1919

$60

6 months

Elsie Smith

1919 - 1920

$55

7 months

Myrtle Davidson

1921

$50

3 months

Alberta Wienold

1921 - 1922

$95

7 months

Alberta Wienold

1922 - 1923

$95

7 months

Alberta Wienold

1923 - 1924

$100

7 months

Edna Myers

1924 - 1925

$90

7 months

Audrey Martin

1925 - 1926

$90

8 months

Katie Arnold

1926 - 1927

$90

8 months

Velta Spady

1927 - 1928

$90

8 months

Evelyn Watkins

1928 - 1929

$90

8 months

Evelyn Watkins

1929 - 1930

$90

8 months

Emma Jones

1930 - 1931

$90

8 months

Bleyn Johnson

1931 - 1932

$85

9 months

Lucille Swink

1932 - 1933

$75

9 months

Lucille Swink

1933 - 1934

60

8 months

Gertrude Langin

1934 - 1935

$50

8 months

Gertrude Langin

1935 - 1936

$55

8 months

Amy Olson

1936 - 1937

$55

8 months

Myrna Myers

1942

$75

2 1/2 months

Elsie Browning

1943 - 1944

$90.40

8 months

Marjorie Morse

1944 - 1945

$108.50

8 months

District 76

Lutis Bard told researchers that the first school in this District was built in the winter
of 1899. It was about 10' by 20' with shiplap siding. No lath or plaster were
used. A hand-made table 2' x 6' was used as a desk. Students brought chairs
from home to sit on. There was no blackboard. The building was heated with a
two-lid laundry stove.

The first term of school was
held from march 27, 1899 to June 16, 1899. Verda Leena Prall was the teacher.
She had two pupils, Emma Kruger and Lutis Bard, both ten years old. Both
students had perfect attendance for the term. The director was U. G. Censer, who
visited the school twice while it was in session. The County Superintendent also
visited the school. Hazel Cooper Tallman, who taught in the district, said that the
original building was eventually replaced in 1907 by patrons of the school District who
donated their time and labor.

Alpha Rural High

Alpha Rural High was located in the village of Champion. Classes were held for the
9th and 10th grades in the north room of the basement of the grade school before a
building was constructed. A house in champion was rented at one time for the 11th
and 12th grades which was attended by four students: Elva Bauerly, Genevieve,
Kilpatrick, Earl Collins (all 11th graders), and Lois Beard, who graduated as the only
student to graduate from Champion High School.

Mary Ellen Smith began
teaching the 11th and 12h grade, but was unable to get her teaching certificate to
continue teaching. Louis Spetts taught until Christmas, at which time Miss Springer
(later to become Mrs. Billie Pyle) taught the remainder of the year. After this year
students for the 11th and 12th grades attended high school in Imperial.

The Alpha Rural High School
building was constructed in 1934 and now houses the Chase County Historical Society.
Freda Smith Heim taught at the school from 1942 until 1945. Freda told
researchers that one year she taught freshman subjects and the next year sophomore
subjects. She said that the school had 3-act plays, and used the proceeds from one
play to send a boy to the Mayo Clinic for medical help. The Districts comprising the
Alpha High School District were 12, 25, 44, 33 and 14.